Deluzio, Houchin Announce New Bill Pushing for Kids Screentime Recommendations from U.S. Surgeon General

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) introduced the bipartisan SMART Kids Act. This bill would require the Surgeon General to develop evidence-informed screentime recommendations for children. These would be recommendations based on independent, evidence-based research, not regulations on devices or users.

"Screens are everywhere these days, and we ought to be studying how screentime can impact our kids and their development," said Congressman Deluzio. "I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan SMART Kids Act to require the Surgeon General to develop evidence-based screentime recommendations for kids. Parents like me know that screens are impacting American children. Let's study screentime and put out research-based recommendations to help families across the country, so they can make smart decisions for their kids."

"We know excessive screen time has been linked to mental health and developmental challenges in children," said Rep. Houchin. "Parents deserve clear, evidence-based guidance on the dangers of excessive screen time and how to get kids to unplug. The SMART Kids Act is a commonsense bill to help parents navigate the realities of raising children in an increasingly digital world."

This bipartisan bill would require the United States Surgeon General to develop recommendations on healthy amount of screentime for kids from age 0 to 18. Since not all screens are created equal, this bill welcomes recommendations about the quality of screens too-because a smartboard might not have the same effect on kids as an iPad. The SMART Kids Act also says that the Surgeon General will have to work to create these recommendations with an independent entity disconnected from the tech industry. The bill also leaves space for the recommendations to be updated to reflect new research and findings. The Surgeon General's recommendations would be due out within a year after passage of the SMART Kids Act.

The SMART Kids Act has a broad coalition of supporters including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Psychological Association (APA), Anxious Generation, Digitally Intentional, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, PA Unplugged, Lebo Unplugged (Mothers Against Media Addiction chapter), Phone-Free Schools Movement, Screen Strong, The Balance Project, The Organization for Social Media Safety, American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), and the Digital Progress Institute.

"If you spend any time with kids - be it in the classroom or at the dinner table - you know there's a problem. Too many kids are spending too much time in front of screens, and we are seeing rising rates of anxiety, depression, and attention issues. Are these things connected? We think they are, and we agree with Representative Deluzio that the country would be better off addressing these concerns with some evidence-based facts and research that come from independent sources, not entities set up by the industry. It's time we apply the same rigor to digital health that we would to any other public health standard for our kids." - AFT President, Randi Weingarten

"The SMART Kids Act is an important step toward providing families with the science-backed tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex digital world. By tasking the Surgeon General with developing age-specific recommendations, this legislation prioritizes the developmental needs of our children and acknowledges that healthy screen habits are essential to protecting youth mental health and ensuring long-term well-being." - Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association

"PA Unplugged would like to thank Representative Deluzio and Representative Houchin for putting politics aside and coming together to do what is right for kids and future generations. This resolution will continue to elevate the national conversation around what for many kids are harmful effects of screentime, addictive algorithmic content, social media, gaming, gambling, and AI chatbot platforms. We believe this is a public health issue and it is imperative that our government leaders take action and raise public awareness, pass policies to keep kids safe online, and prioritize people over profits and hold Big Tech companies accountable." - Kristen Beddard, PA Unplugged Co-Lead

"We endorse the effort to create screentime guidelines for kids. Parents need and want clear, evidence-based guidance, and our hope is that this is a step in the right direction." - Emily Boddy, Founder and Co-Lead, Smartphone Free Childhood US

"Children and Screens supports the SMART Kids Act as an important step toward providing families with clear, evidence-based guidance to navigate the risks and opportunities of children's media use. As digital environments continue to shape how children learn and develop, age-specific recommendations grounded in science can help parents and caregivers make more informed decisions that support healthy development and well-being." - Kris Perry MSW., Executive Director, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development

"Lebo Unplugged endorses Representative Deluzio and Representative Houchin's resolution asking the surgeon general to issue screen time recommendations for children. Not only will it be helpful for parents to have tangible guidelines, but it will also promote conversation about responsible technology use and protecting our kids from online harms. Thank you for elevating this issue!" - Lebo Unplugged Leadership Team

"In today's attention economy, children are spending increasing amounts of time on screens, which has been shown to negatively impact cognitive and social development. The SMART Kids Act is a bipartisan and pragmatic proposal designed to investigate the underlying causes of technology dependence and directly address these concerns." - Joel Thayer, president of the Digital Progress Institute

"We are witnessing alarming increases in anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges in young people-trends that are closely associated with excessive interactive screen use and social media exposure. In addition, rising rates of sedentary behavior are contributing to pediatric obesity, disrupted sleep, and other serious health concerns, placing an increasing burden on families, schools, and our healthcare system. Establishing national, science-based recommendations for screen use is a critical step toward addressing this growing public health issue. Clear guidance from the Surgeon General will empower parents, educators, and communities to make informed decisions that protect the developing brains of our children. I respectfully urge Congress to support and advance this effort. Safeguarding brain health is essential not only for improving educational outcomes but also for ensuring the long-term mental and physical well-being of future generations." - Melanie Hempe, Founder & CEO of Screen Strong

"We applaud Representatives Deluzio and Houchin for recognizing the urgent need to address youth screen time and its effects on children's health and development. Parents deserve clear, evidence-based recommendations that empower them to create healthier digital habits for their children. This bipartisan effort aligns closely with our mission to protect childhood, support student wellbeing, and foster healthier environments both in and out of school." - Mileva Repasky Co-Founder, Phone-Free Schools Movement

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